Under the headline “Former Leaders of the Muslim Student Association (MSA): Where Are They Now?,” the ad in The Lantern simply lists, without comment, ten MSA co-founders and former presidents connected to terrorist entities such as al-Qaeda, Hamas, the Taliban, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Not all have criminal convictions, but among them are such terrorist superstars as Anwar al-Awlaki, the budding “bin Laden 2.0” taken out last year in a drone attack, and Abu Mansoor al-Amriki, spokesman for al-Qaeda in Somalia. The ad closes by promoting a new pamphlet by Daniel Greenfield at the Freedom Center, Muslim Hate Groups on Campus, which documents the radical origins and violent objectives of the main Muslim student organizations on our nation’s campuses, such as the MSA and Students for Justice in Palestine, which are sponsors of hate-fests like “Israeli Apartheid Weeks” or “Palestine Awareness Weeks.”

Kindhearts, however, was not the only terror-connected sponsor of the OSU MSA conference. Also supporting the MSA’s conference was its local parent organization, Masjid Omar Ibn El-Khattab, known affectionately in the Central Ohio area as “Masjid Al-Qaeda”. The mosque nearby the OSU campus was home to the largest known Al-Qaeda cell in the US.

One of the Ohio State students who complained about the DHFC ad is International Studies major Jana al-Akhras, 18. “I am offended not only as a Muslim or as a general-body member of the MSA, but as a member of the OSU community,” she said. “We do not stand for discrimination, hate or intolerance here.” Nor does the Freedom Center – its ad has no hateful, intolerant, or discriminatory content, except perhaps an implied intolerance for terrorist activity. That’s enough for al-Akhras to dismiss it as “hate speech”; she claims that the ad constitutes a blanket statement labeling Muslim students as security threats. “It’s a blatant attempt at reinforcing stereotypes and causing widespread fear of Muslims on campus.” To imply that the MSA is responsible for international terrorism only “breeds hatred,” she insists.

Al-Akhras did not explain how merely identifying the names of ten MSA leaders and their demonstrable connections to terrorism breeds hatred; nor did she address the fact that it is the terrorists themselves and their supporters who are the ones consumed by hatred and “reinforcing stereotypes” about Muslims. She also did not contradict the factuality of the ad’s content; she only offered the excuse that there can be “bad apples” in any organization.

She believes “there’s a fine line between freedom of speech and hate speech.” Apparently the facts presented in the DHFC ad cross that line. OSU Undergraduate Student Government President Nick Messenger chimed in, calling the ad “false, bigoted and full of hate speech that doesn’t have a place on campus.” Neither he nor al-Akhras provided any evidence for their accusations; nonetheless, she said that The Lantern “had every right to deny [the ad] as hate speech.”

Mark Tapson, a Hollywood-based writer and screenwriter, is a Shillman Journalism Fellow at the David Horowitz Freedom Center. He focuses on the politics of popular culture.

Anamah

We need to eradicate all suspicious organizations and individuals willing to suppress free speech in USA and around the world under the disguise of alleged damage on sensitivity people. Muslims and communist have an extreme low standard of respect to the truth or to individual rights, or minorities rights. American deserve to be admire for it, certainly not the UN which became an iconic symbol of indecency around the world.

Where is the line drawn that puts ones words over into "hate speech?" Should someone be upset because their shirt was described as ugly, is that "hate speech?" What if another got offended because someone spoke out against the smell of garlic and they always smell of garlic; is THAT "hate speech?"
We wouldn't need a law protecting free speech if everything that is said is not offensive to anyone. We have a right to free speech in the face of perhaps offending someone that disagrees and they in turn have a right to refute what was said. This is the price we willingly pay; we may be offended by what we hear on occasion. So be it. The alternative is dire. Once our right of speaking freely is gone under the guise of wanting not to offend, we have lost all our other rights. When you can no longer disagree you become a subject rather than a citizen.

guido

well said!!!

jacob

Eevr noticed that when there has been a public debate with Muslim clergy, when
confronted with the murderous claims in thei holy books, they shelter themselves
in nthe "ISLAM IS A RELIGION OF PEACE" mantra ?????

YES: That of the graveyards….
Down to the nitty-gritty, Is there actually any difference between the KORAN
preachigs and those of MEIN KAMPF…?????????
Shame on the learning institution "AUTHORITIES" for allowing such as MSN
to exist

mrbean

Here is some hate speech if she wants it. Muslims don't want to be tolerant, they don't want allies, they don't want to assimilate, they want to change America to conform to Islam and Sharia law. Useful idiot Dhimmis of The Lanternjust want no conflict and the alligator to eat them last. Muck the Fuzzlims! Kill 'em all, wrap 'em in their prayer rugs and put 'em all in piles, burn 'em all using pork grease for a starter, and let Allah sort 'em out. Oh deaaaarrr, I am just sooooo full of hate speech.

kidbertha

Absolutely awesome Bean! Well said!

Jack

Great MrBean guess you religious teachings and principles are no different from the Muslims!

Maher

When al-Akhras realized that there are “bad apples” at the MSA? When did she (and her likes) speak out against them? Hypocrites, as usual.

Junkie

Correct. They never do. Tells you all you need to know, doesn't it.

Ghostwriter

Agreed.

Tim

This is just one of the many glaring examples of how leftists want to silence speech they disagree with. Keep up the great work of exposing these frauds, David.

Carl

Boy are we in a for debauchery if people refuse to stand up to this hate speech farce. Kudos to the university for doing so in this instance, but these terrorist-loving Jew-haters are certainly not going to back away from this pathetic tactic and it's our duty to never give in to it. When the absolute truth becomes "hate speech," Satan is at the reigns.